The Good GP

In this episode of This Could Save Your Life podcast, Dr Catherine Bourke discusses the new lung cancer screening program in Australia and its importance for early cancer detection. Dr Bourke explains that lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in Australia, largely because most cases are detected too late. She reviews recent evidence supporting screening, such as the Nelson Study and National Lung Screening Trial, which show significant reductions in mortality with the use of low-dose CT.

Key eligibility criteria for the screening program are ages 50–70, current or recent smokers (within 10 years of quitting), and a history of at least 30 pack-years. Providing guidance on enrolment, the screening process, and clarifies pack-year calculation. She also addresses misconceptions about lung cancer only affecting smokers and explores the impact of stigma and nicotine dependence.

Detailing the essentials for general practice, including how to refer patients, what to expect from the CT scan process, and how results and nodule management protocols inform follow-up and specialist referral. GPs are encouraged to support eligible patients to participate for better outcomes through early detection and advances in lung cancer treatment.

Links & Resources:

• The heart of Australia: https://heartofaustralia.com.au/
• National lung cancer cancer screening program: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23576447207&gbraid=0AAAAA_Hdu8ldTc75J8nw1zqot-Q-9Peic&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7IjOBhDyARIsAFzrWQz0u-84xCTnyQspBM7pE0tkVszhnlnMuCMcyRVZOJ8uSpoG3AjwAUwaAkBoEALw_wcB

This Could Save Your Life Podcast is under The Good GP podcast, a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, Dr Krystyna de Lange is once again joined by Dr Karen Spielman and Dr Rachel Kalman, GPs with a special interest in eating disorders, for part two of this series on eating disorders. Their conversation centres on the ongoing management of patients with eating disorders in general practice.

Dr Kalman provides guidance on the frequency and nature of medical monitoring, including when to order blood tests and ECGs. Dr Spielman discusses how to assess and respond to medical instability, particularly cardiovascular risks and rapid weight loss, while emphasising clinical judgment and individualised care.

They discuss common medical complications associated with eating disorders, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and endocrine issues, along with practical tips for symptom management and patient education. The importance of the GP’s role in long-term management, continuity of care, and maintaining hope for recovery.

A detailed walkthrough of the Eating Disorder Treatment Plan (EDP), addressing eligibility, use of templates, and the expanded access to psychological and dietetic support. They encourage GPs to utilise the EDP and Medicare Safety Net to make comprehensive care more accessible for patients.

Dr Rachel Kalman also discusses the review of an eating disorder management plan. Please note that this review can occur via a psychiatrist or paediatrician, not a psychologist as mentioned in the episode.

Links & Resources:

1. Inside Out Institute GP Hub: https://gp.insideoutinstitute.org.au
2. CEED Table for medical monitoring: https://ceed.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Medical-Monitoring-in-Eating-Disorders.pdf
3. Eating Disorders Family Australia: https://edfa.org.au
4. Sick Enough Book by Dr Jennifer L. Guadiani: https://www.sickenough.com

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, Dr Krystyna de Lange speaks with Dr Karen Spielman and Dr Rachel Kalman about the screening and assessment of eating disorders in general practice. This is the first episode of a two part series on eating disorders. Both Dr Spielman and Dr Kalman have a special interest in psychological medicine, specifically eating disorders and work with the Inside Out Institute for Eating Disorders.

In this episode, there is a discussion about the importance of early recognition and intervention, noting the high morbidity, mortality, and economic impact of eating disorders. High-risk groups for GPs to consider are identified and include young people, those involved in visual sports, hormonal change periods, neurodivergence, and comorbid mental health conditions.

Screening strategies are explored, including the Inside Out Screener, a validated, patient-friendly tool designed for primary care. Giving practical advice on engaging patients in open, non-judgmental conversations about their relationship with food.

Dr Rachel Kalman outlines how to conduct a thorough assessment, including relevant history, physical examination, and investigations such as blood tests, ECG, and bone density scans. The importance of sensitive communication about test results and understanding medical and psychiatric risk factors is emphasised.

This equips GPs with practical approaches and reliable resources for early screening and assessment of eating disorders.

Links & Resources:

1. Inside Out Institute GP Hub: https://gp.insideoutinstitute.org.au
2. Inside Out screening tool: https://insideoutinstitute.org.au/screener
3. Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q): https://insideoutinstitute.org.au/resource-library/eating-disorder-examination-questionnaire-ede-q
4. Centre for Clinical Interventions including patient information and worksheets: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/looking-after-yourself/disordered-eating
5. Eating Disorders Family Australia: https://edfa.org.au
6. Sick Enough Book by Dr Jennifer L. Guadiani: https://www.sickenough.com

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Krystyna de Lange welcomes Dr Jonathon Mitchell, hepatologist from Cairns Base Hospital, to discuss metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formally known as Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD. They explore the updated terminology, highlight the role of GPs in diagnosis and management, and frame MASLD as largely a metabolic rather than a primary liver disease.

Dr Mitchell outlines the main risk factors for MASLD, including excess weight, metabolic syndrome, dietary quality, and family history. The importance of screening for other liver conditions in patients with abnormal LFTs, including viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver diseases, haemochromatosis, and coeliac disease.

Non-invasive fibrosis assessment, primarily through the FIB-4 score, is discussed as an accessible tool for GPs. Liver biopsy is rarely required and reserved for cases with diagnostic uncertainty. Management focuses on lifestyle interventions, mainly dietary change and weight loss, with no approved pharmacological treatments currently available in Australia. Monitoring frequency depends on fibrosis status and response to lifestyle changes.

They reinforce the importance of holistic care in primary practice, addressing both liver health and associated metabolic risks.

Links & Resources:

1. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/july/fatty-liver-disease

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of This Could Save Your Life Podcast, Dr Anna Mullins and Dr Catherine Bourke provide a comprehensive and practical overview of the first antenatal visit, building on their previous discussion about preconception care. Aimed at supporting GPs to deliver optimal care at this early stage of pregnancy.

Opening with the importance of timely antenatal care, ideally within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, and the benefits of early and regular antenatal visits on maternal and child health outcomes. Dr Mullins and Dr Bourke detail the process of confirming pregnancy dates, discussing past obstetric history, and creating a supportive environment for patients to express any concerns or fears regarding the current pregnancy.

Outlining the value of taking a thorough medical history, including a review of current medications and the management of any chronic medical conditions.

Lifestyle factors including smoking, alcohol intake, illicit drug use, and exposure to passive smoking were also discussed, and the role of the GP in facilitating cessation and support services where required. Screening for intimate partner violence was also discussed as a standard part of the first antenatal visit.

Preventative health advice with evidence-based guidance on folic acid and iodine supplementation; calcium and low-dose aspirin for women at risk of preeclampsia.

Encouragement of regular aerobic and strength exercise unless contraindicated. Referral to women’s health physiotherapy, particularly for pelvic floor assessment and education, is also recommended.

Nutrition, weight management, management of pregnancy-related symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation, and the importance of maintaining dental health were also discussed. They also emphasise the role of multidisciplinary care and the involvement of GPs, physiotherapists, dentists, and obstetricians in high-quality antenatal care.

This Could Save Your Life Podcast is under The Good GP podcast, a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Sean Stevens interviews Dr John Kramer OAM, an experienced rural general practitioner and Chair of the RACGP ASD, ADHD, and Neurodiversity Specific Interest Group, they talked about the evolving role of GPs in ADHD care in Australia.

Covering the recent Victorian reforms allowing specialist GPs to diagnose and manage ADHD, and what these changes mean nationally. Dr Kramer explains the current complexities of state-based stimulant prescribing regulations and ongoing efforts to establish a more consistent, national approach.

Dr Stevens shares insights from Western Australia’s training initiatives, demonstrating high interest from general practitioners. Giving practical advice for GPs starting out in ADHD diagnosis and management, such as the importance of a detailed developmental history, identification of comorbidities, and collaboration with specialists.

Dr Kramer concludes by encouraging GPs to consider a greater role in ADHD care, emphasising the positive impact well-supported general practice can have on patient outcomes.

Links & Resources:

RACGP

1. https://www.racgp.org.au/advocacy/position-statements/view-all-position-statements/health-systems-and-environmental/adhd-initiation-modification-continuation-by-gps
2. https://gpl.racgp.org.au/d2l/le/lessons/7367/units/13000
3. https://gpl.racgp.org.au/d2l/le/lessons/7367/units/12650

AADPA

1. https://aadpa.com.au/
2. https://aadpa.com.au/adhd-resources/
3. https://aadpa.com.au/free-adhd-clinical-resources/

OTHER SOURCES

1. https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/adhd-in-general-practice
2. https://beyondgp.com.au/
3. https://aaadhdig.com.au/

INTERNATIONAL

1. https://www.caddra.ca/
2. https://www.additudemag.com/

CONSUMER GROUPS

1. https://www.adhdaustralia.org.au/
2. https://adhdfoundation.org.au/
3. https://www.adhdwa.org/

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of The Good GP, host Dr Sean Stevens speaks with Professor Nick Zwar, Chair of the RACGP Travel Medicine Specific Interest Group, to discuss the state of travel medicine in Australia post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Zwar outlines how the pandemic led to a sudden halt in international travel and impacted travel medicine practice. Many have adapted by shifting their focus back to general practice, advising patients stranded overseas, and planning for a resumption of travel. He also notes the practical implications, such as unused vaccine stock and the adoption of telehealth.

Also discussing the resumption of international travel, with Australians returning to pre-pandemic travel levels, including higher-risk activities like cruise ship travel. They observe that despite the risks of infectious diseases, most patients are eager to travel and may not be as concerned about COVID-19 as practitioners might expect.

Looking ahead, Professor Zwar identifies several challenges in travel medicine. These include changing patterns of infectious diseases (notably respiratory infections, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and measles), emerging threats like monkeypox (Mpox), and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance affecting management of traveler's diarrhoea. He also highlights the complexity of advising immunocompromised travellers, particularly those on biological therapies.

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Krystyna de Lange is joined by Anisa Varasteh, a clinical sexologist, psychotherapist, and former president of the Society of Australian Sexologists, to discuss the topic of female sexual dysfunction and its management in general practice.

Anisa Varasteh provides a thorough overview of the multifaceted nature of female sexual dysfunction, emphasising the complex interplay between biological, psychological, relational, and social factors. Highlighting the impact of chronic stress, nervous system overload, and the relational context on sexual function. Psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and body image concerns are explored, as well as the influence of cultural myths and social conditioning on female sexuality across the lifespan.

Anisa identifies everyday factors influencing desire and arousal, including sleep deprivation, mental load, lack of pleasure outside of sex, unresolved grief, and body image issues. She shares practical strategies for GPs when supporting patients, such as normalising fluctuations in desire, exploring the biopsychosocial context, shifting the focus towards pleasure and connection, and promoting nervous system regulation. Early referral to sexologists or related professionals is suggested, as is the value of providing patients with language and frameworks to have open conversations with their partners.

The episode concludes with strategies for empowering patients to discuss their sexual wellbeing without shame or guilt and the benefits of reframing intimacy outside the goal of intercourse.

Potential questions to use in assessment of sexual function:

1. What is the concern, and what does it mean to the patient?
2. Is there distress around it?
3. How long has it been present?
4. What is the impact on their life or relationship?
5. In what contexts is it not present?
6. Have they sought help before?
7. How is their general health and mental wellbeing?
8. How do they feel in their relationship?
9. Why is this a concern now?

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The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates

In this episode of This Could Save Your Life Podcast, hosts Dr Catherine Bourke and Dr Anna Mullins provide an overview of preconception care, and the key considerations for GPs when supporting patients who are planning a pregnancy.

Key discussion points include:

1. Initial Assessment: Consider age, reproductive history, and duration of attempts to conceive. Referral for fertility investigation recommended for women over 35 trying for 6 months, or any age trying for 12 months, or women aged 40+.
2. Review of Medical History: Assess chronic conditions: diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy (and medication management), thyroid disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and asthma.
3. Medication Management: Identify and remove teratogenic medications prior to conception (e.g., isotretinoin, some weight loss medications). Recognise medications that are safe/necessary during pregnancy (such as inhalers for asthma).
4. Dietary Advice: Encourage a balanced diet rich in vegetables, lean meats, fruits, grains, nuts, and dairy; minimise processed foods.
5. Alcohol Consumption: Advise abstinence from alcohol in the period of actively trying to conceive and during early pregnancy.
6. Lifestyle Modification: Smoking cessation strongly recommended for both partners to improve fertility and prevent harm to the fetus and child.
7. Pre-Pregnancy Investigations: Which include routine tests: full blood count, iron studies, electrolytes, liver and kidney function. Check immunity to rubella and varicella; advise vaccination if necessary before pregnancy.
8. Consultation Advice: Recommending dedicated, extended preconception consultations to address medical, lifestyle, and individual patient factors.

Links & Resources:

1. For information about listeria is: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-poisoning-listeria
2. For information about fragile x: https://www.cdc.gov/fragile-x-syndrome/index.html

This Could Save Your Life Podcast is under The Good GP podcast, a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of The Good GP podcast, Dr Ramya Raman, Vice President of the RACGP and GP, is joined by Dr Sean Stevens, Chair of the RACGP Digital Health and Innovation Specific Interest Group, and Dr Amandeep Hansra, Deputy Chair and esteemed digital health expert, for a discussion about the upcoming RACGP Hackathon event.

Beginning with the introduction of what a hackathon is, particularly in the context of general practice. Dr Amandeep describes hackathons as intensive, collaborative events where clinicians, technologists, and entrepreneurs come together to solve real-world problems faced in general practice and develop practical solutions.

The unique focus of the RACGP Hackathon on clinically-relevant issues, highlighting the importance of clinician-led innovation. Reflecting on previous events, including the significant outcomes for past participants such as product development, enhanced professional networks, and entry into healthcare innovation accelerator programs.

Dr Sean mentions who should consider applying, emphasising that the hackathon is not only for those with technical expertise but is open to any general practitioners interested in innovation, regardless of experience in technology or entrepreneurship.

They address the broader challenges facing general practice, including workforce shortages, burnout, patient complexity, and emerging disruptive technologies. Discussing the role of innovation and digital solutions in maintaining the central importance of general practice and improving patient care.

Key event information:

1. The RACGP Hackathon will be held in Sydney from 13th to 15th March, 2026
2. Applications close on 29th January, 2026
3. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to compete for a significant cash prize (to be announced) and potential entry into an innovation accelerator program.

Join the RACGP Hackathon here: https://hackathon26.au/

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!